Employees fired after more than $500K worth of brass fittings stolen from S&WB, officials say

Employees fired after more than $500K worth of brass fittings stolen from S&WB, officials say

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Updated: 6:28 PM CST Dec 14, 2016

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WEBVTT
IT IS A LOT, AND TONIGHT, THE
SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD SAYS
THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
THE HEAD OF THE SEWERAGE AND
WATER BOARD DIDN'T HOLD BACK
WHEN DESCRIBING THE LATEST
CONTROVERSY INVOLVING HIS
AGENCY.
>> BRAZEN AND DUMB, YEAH.
>> THESE ARE BRASS FITTING USED
IN EVERYDAY WORK BY STAFFERS AT
THE SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD.
THE CITY PAYS $15 A POUND FOR
THEM, AND THEY ARE USED TO
INSTALL AND REPAIR ALL CITY
WATER METERS.
BUT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS 10
, FORMER SEWERAGE AND WATER
BOARD ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING
THEM.
>> YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH
SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NOTICE.
>> BUT NO ONE DID UNTIL THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL LAUNCHED A
PROBE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HERE'S HOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
SAYS IT ALL WENT DOWN.
HE SAYS WORKERS WOULD TAKE THESE
BRASS FITTINGS INTO THE FIELD
WITH THEM, BECAUSE UNTIL
RECENTLY THERE WERE NO CHECKS
AND BALANCES.
WORKERS ALLEGEDLY STOLE THESE
PARTS, SOLD THEM AT LOCAL SCRAP
YARDS, AND THEN POCKETED THE
MONEY.
>> ANYWHERE FROM 50-60 POUNDS UP
TO SEVERAL HUNDRED, 20, 30, 50.
IT RAN THE GAMUT OF HOW MANY
DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS AN
INDIVIDUAL MAY DO ULTIMATELY
1000 OR 2000 POUNDS.
>> THE SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD
SAYS IT'S HIRED A NEW HEAD OF
SECURITY.
AND FOR NOW ALL VENDORS MUST
, EMBOSS ITEMS LIKE BRASS AND
COPPER WITH A SEWERAGE AND WATER
LOGO TO IDENTIFY IT AS
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.
>> BASICALLY WHAT I'M DEALING
WITH IS A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE
THINK THEY CAN DO THINGS UNTIL
THEY CAN'T.

Employees fired after more than $500K worth of brass fittings stolen from S&WB, officials say